Gas-time meter



May 7, 1935. E wo 7 2,000,655

GAS TIME METER Filed Aug. 8, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l m} freoz 6 wood.

May 7; 1935. F, EWOOD 2,000, 55

GAS TIME METER Filed Aug. 8, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WOO CZ.

y 1935- F. E. WOOD 2,000,655

4 GAS TIME METER Filed Aug. 8, 1932 S'Sheets-Sheet s Q) fa 26%?" wad 5mm;

Patented May 7 1935 i UNITED STATES .z'mosts' GAS-TIME METER Fred E. Wood, Glen Ellyn, 111. Application August 8, 1932, Serial No. 625,981

14 Claims.

This-invention relates to a gas time meter and m re particularly to coin-controlled apparatus;

for controlling a valve in a gas supply line for a predetermined period. A

An object of-the invention is to provide simple means, actuated by coins, for opening and maintaining open for a predetermined period or periods, a valve in a fuel supply line leading to a gas range, or any other device or apparatus which consumes gasl A further object is to provide an improved gas time meter adapted to receive'a number of coins and to permit the flow of gas for a predetermined period or periods while at the same time exacting a penalty in the form of the i loss of a coin or coins should anyone attempt to tamper with the driving mechanism or break the electrical coimections therefor. A further object is to provide improved valve and valve-control means which operate automatically under oer- 20' tain conditions andwhich permit a constant flow of a small quantity of gas suificient to maintain the pilot light. Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The'invention is described, in a preferred emin the accompanying drawings, in

tion being taken as indicated at line 4' of Fig. 1; andFig. 5, an enlarged sectional view, the section being taken as indicated atline 5 of Fig. 4.

In the embodiment illustrated, the apparatus is illustrated as being employed: in connection with a gas range or a device requiring a small amount of gas tobe constantly fed thereto.

In the illustration given, A designates a motor; B, coin-controlled meichanismior closing the circuitinwhich the motor is placed; C, coin-release means; D, reduction-speed gear mechanism foractuating the coin-release mechanism C; E, valve-control means; and F, gas valve mechanism.

The apparatus just mentioned is preferably housed within a casing I0 which is preferably closed so as to prevent'access to the working parts.

' The casing provides on one sidea coin receptacle I l t-o which access may be had by a key-controlled door (not shown) h! mQ Q i is pp te i h n he casing i 55. y, any su t b W v e vin (oi-mew mechanism is illustrated in the formofa motor, it will be understood that any other suitable driving means-may be substituted. Asshown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, the motor A isplaced with-in a circuit adapted to be closed. bya ooin- 5 controlled mechanism B.

The mechanism 13 comprises a coin: slot l2 adapted to receive. a plurality of coins, as for example quarters the coins being supported: by the release mechanism C; On one side, the coin slot !2 is broken away, as indicated at P3, to permit the swinging levers i l and L5 to extend into the slot l2. The levers M and-l5 are, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, provided with spaced attachment ears l6 which are perforated andwhich lie' adjacent-the bracket flanges ll; The parts; It and il are secured together bystud !-8-.- A'spring i9 is carried'by the stud I8 and the ends or'the'spring are positioned so as to urge the leverin an upward position. The

bracket I1 is secured by flanges 20 to a wall of the casing I0. On their bottom sides, the levers t4 and I5 are-provided'with conta'ctfingers 2! adapted to engage the contact plates 22 carriedby the flanges 20. The wire 23 is connected to theplates-ZZ and the wire 24 is connected withcontact fingers 2| and one terminal ofmotor-A. As shown more clearly in Fig; 2, an outlet-wire 25 is connected; to the otherte'rminal of the motor- A. With this arrangement, when either of" the contact fingers 2 is brought in contact with one of the plates 22, the circuit completed and motor A should be set in operation] The coins in the coin slot !2 are indicated by the numerallfi. The coin-release mechanism C consists of a plate member 2]; ofthe shape illustrated having a lower forwardly inclined,- catch portion '28 adaptedto engage the lower side of the coin andhaving a forwardly extending check or catch 29 atits upper side adapted to" engage the upper coin so'as to prevent it from falling whilethe lower coin is being released. The member 2'] is provided with a rearwardly extending shank; 30; whichjspivotally connected to the top oi standardti. At, its rear side,the shanlglil is pivotally nnet dtaal er 2' hishinturn is piv t l su po ed on tan ard h r, s videdwitha vertical finger $4 and witha rearardly xt n n mm -1 ""Ihs ductiq f ear mec n m. is ov ded, w th mea s o kin t e er l n e 34 an uat n t e. e mechamsm C- n. he. l ustration. giyen h s st c means m y d. or. this po e ons s of a m tly mou ted.

disk 36 equipped with an adjustable plate 31. The plate 31 carries a pin 38 which,'upon rotation of the disk 36 in a counter-clockwise direction, strikes the vertical finger 34. As shown more clearly in Fig. 1, the plate 31 is provided with a longitudinal slot 38 through which extends a set screw 48. The disk 36 is carried upon shaft 4| which is rotatably supported in bracket 42. Upon the end of the shaft 4| is mounted a worm gear 43 driven by worm 44. The worm 44 carries upon its free end a large gear 45 which meshes with pinion 46. The pinion 46 is driven by a series of gears indicated by the numeral 41. The gears 41 are connected to the pinion 48 carried by the drive shaft 49 of the motor A. While, for purposes of illustration, 2, specific set of reduction gears are shown, it will be understood that any suitable connecting means between the motorA and disk 36, by which the latter may be rotated slowly, say once in twenty-four hours,

may be employed. 7

The valve control mechanism E is also driven by the pinion 48 on the motor shaft 49. As shown more clearly in Fig. l, a gear '50 meshes with pinion 48 and is fixed upon shaft 5|. Shaft 5| carries gear 52 which meshes with gear 53 on shaft 54. The shaft 54 is supported by bracket 55 and carries a bevel pinion gear 56. Gear 56 drives a large bevel gear 51 carried upon shaft 58. The shaft 58 is fixed to a bearing 59 on the upper wall of the casing I6 and the lower end of the shaft is rotatably supported within the collar 60 carried by standard 6 I As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, the standard 6| is bolted to a side wall of the casing l0. Above the collar 60 is positioned a thrust bearing or washer 62 and above the washer 62 is a bearing 63 which is fixed to shaft 58. At the upper end of the shaft 58 and adjacent the bevel gear 51 is a fixed collar 64 rigidly secured to shaft 58.

Secured to the collar 64 is a sliding link governor mechanism of a well known construction. The mechanism consists of link members 65 and 66 pivotally connected at their adjacent ends, and at their upper ends to the fixed collar 64 and at their lowerends to a sliding collar 61. Weights 68 may be secured to the links at their points of junction with each other. Between the upper collar 64 and lower collar 61 and inclosing the shaft 58 may be a compression spring 69. The collar 61 is preferably provided with an annular groove 10. A yoke 1| is fixed at its lower end to the valve stem 12 and the upper arms of the yoke are provided with inwardly extending pins 13 engaging the groove 18 of collar 61. The yoke 1| isheld in alignment with the shaft 58 and valve stem 12 by means of pins 14 which extend, in pairs, from each side of the collar 68 to enclose the arms of the yoke as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. The yoke 1| is provided at its lower end where it joins the valve stem 12 with a collar 15 on which are mounted diagonally disposed projections or lugs 16. The lugs 16 are adapted to strike the bifurcated end 35 of the lever 35.

The valve F may be of any suitable construction. In the preferred construction illustrated, the valve body consists of a cylindrical casing 11 internally threaded at its upper and lower.

ends and with a threaded inlet 18 and a threaded outlet 19. Threadedly connected to the upper portion of the casing is a closure plate 80, apertured to receive the valve stem 12 and provided with a hollow boss 8| adapted to receive the pack-v ing 82v and a packing nut 83. Secured to thelower end of valve stem 12 is a disk valve 84 against which is clamped a bracing disk 85 by means of a nut 86 which threadedly engages the end of stem 12. In the lower end of the valve casing 11 is threadedly secured a plug 81 which is provided with a curved flow passage 88, the upper end of which is adapted to be closed by the valve disk 84. A small orifice or passage 88 provides communication between the upper chamber of the casing, which is recessed at 11 and the outer end of flow passage 88.

In the operation of the apparatus, a coin or two, say quarters, are dropped through the open upper end of the coin slot 12. As shown more clearly in Fig. l, the lower coin is engaged and supported by the forwardly extending shoulder 28 of plate 21. At the same time, the two coins depress the levers 4 and I5 into the position shown in which the contact fingers 2| are brought against the contact plates 22.- The meeting of these contact points, or any pair of them, completes the circuit in which the motor is placed and immediately the motor starts in operation. It is desired to have at least two spring levers so that the apparatus may be kept in continuous operation after the lowermost coin has been released. With theconstruction shown, when the lower coin is dropped, the second coin will hold the contact finger of lever l4 in contact until the release action is completed and then will drop to the position formerly occupied by the lower coin, thus keeping the motor in continuous operation. The motor A drives through the series of reduction gears the arm 44 which in turn rotates the worm gear 43 and shaft 44. Thus, the disk 36 is slowly rotated, making, say, one revolution in twenty-four hours. When the pin 38 carried upon the adjustable plate 31 finally contacts with the finger 34 (after twenty-four hours) the finger is swung in the direction that the pin 38is moving so as to elevate the pivoted ends of lever 32 and shank 38. This causes the plate21 to drop so as to permit the shoulder 28 to clear the lower coin 26. The coin 25 drops into the receptacle Atthe same time, the forwardly extending point 29 on plate 21 is swung forward so as to support the upper coin 26 against the swinging lever M. The upper coin is held in this position until the pin 38 clears the finger 34. After the finger 34 is released from engagement with pin 38, it returns to itsoriginal position under the pull of spring 32 which connects the pivotally connected ends of' shank 30 and shaft 32 to the upper wall of the cash receptacle The plate 21 is thereby tilted rearwardly' so that the point 29 clears the upper coin 26 and allows-it to fall against the shoulder 28 which has moved back into its initial supporting position.

As stated above, the supporting of the upper coin by the projection 29,. during the interval when the pin 38 is clearing finger 34, keeps the circuit closed and the motor in operation. Then when the plate 21 is swung back to its original position, the upper coin strikes the lower swinging lever I5 so that there is substantially no break in the fiow of current to the motor. With this arrangement, the motor is constantly operating'irrespective of the released coins.

In apparatus for the present purpose, one of the chief difficulties is that the customer who deposits coins for the use of gas-time, may attempt to cheat the meter by disconnecting the electrical connections by which current is supplied to the meter. Of course with the interruption of the current, the motor will-not operate and the disk 36 will not rotate within the next the meter by causing the coin to be released upon' interruption of the current. The weighted governor is rotated by connection through gears 5'1, 55, E3, 52 and 5G by the pinion 48 carried by the motor shaft 49. With the motor constantly in operation, the governor will assume the position shown in Fig. 1 with the lower'collar 61in ele-. vatedposition. However, when the motor stops and the link arms 55, 66, and weights 6'! are no longer' rotated, the collar. 61 will drop torihe lower position illustrated in Fig. 5. At the same time, the yoke H which is connected by pins, 73 to the groove it of collar Bl, will be depressed.

As the yoke ll drops, the, projections or lateral lugs 16 strike the bifurcated end 35 of the lever 35 and carry it to the depressed'position illustrated in Fig. 4. By this movement, the inner end of the lever 32 and the adjacent end of shank. 30 are raised, causing the plate 21 to tilt upon'pivot 3!. In this manner, the lower coin 36 is released by the same sort of movement that releases the coin after the lapse of twenty-four hours of use of the meter.

In the operation of the gas valve mechanism F, when governor is in extended position. as

shown in Fig. 4, the valve disk 84 is in the lower.

position illustrated in Fig. 5 so as to close the outlet opening 88. Thus when the motor is not operated, either because the circuit is .not closed by the placing of coins in the coin slot or because of tampering with the electrical connections, the valve as drops to closed position so as to prevent the use of fuel in the range. In this position, however, the orifice 89 permits the constant flow of gas to the pilot light. The quantity of gas thus supplied is notsufficient to supply the burners but does furnish sufiicient fuel to maintain the pilot light; When the motor is in operation, the valve is drawn to theuppermost position illustrated in Fig. 5, the yoke ll being raised by the pin connections with the groove 10 of collar 6?.

It will be noted that with the valve control and valve mechanism illustrated, very slight effort is needed to reciprocate the closure valve 84. The contraction of the link arms of the governor readily raises the valve disk and, when the valve is closed by the dropping of the link arms, the closing operation is facilitated by the pressure of the gas upon the upper face of the disk, 84. In raising the valve, the load of the parts is compensated by the upward pull of the arm 35 against the lugs 76, the spring 32 being so tensioned as to practically balance the weight of the valve and associated parts.

The adjustable plate 3'? permits the pin 38 to be shifted in position so as to permit an adjustment of the time period, within small limits, without changing the speed reduction gears, etc.

While space has been shown for depositing only about five coins, it will be readily understood that the apparatus may be modified so as to receive a much larger number of coins without departing from the principle of the invention. It will also be understood that many changes in details may be effected while employing the invention illustrated.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In automatic control apparatus, driving mechanism, "coin-controlled means for starting. said -mechanism, driven. by saiddriving mechanism for actuating said coin-release means to release a coinafter. a predetermined. period, and control means. ac tuated. by" said driving mechanism and adapted to release acoin on the stopping of said driving.

mechanism.

2. In apparatus of the character set forth, driving means, ooin controlled means for starting saiddriving means-in operation, coin-release, means, means driven by said driving means forv actuating said coin-release means to release. a coin after apred-etermined period, controlmeans adapted when operative to actuate. said coin re.- leasemeans to: release a coin, and connectin means-between said control means and said driving means for rendering said control means .inoperative as long as said driving means continuesv in operation.

3. In apparatus of driving means, coin-actuated means for starting said driving means, coin-release means, and valve-control means connected to saidsdriving means and adapted to release a coin by actuating said coin-release means on the stoppingof said driving means. i

A. In apparatus of the character set forth, a motor, a coin slot, a contact member extending into said slot and adapted to be actuatedby a coin to close the circuit in which said motor is.

placed, coin-release mechanism, means drivenby said motor to actuate said coin-release mechanism after a predetermined period, and control means also driven by said motor and adapted to actuate said coin-release mechanism upon the stopping of said motor.

.5..In apparatus of the character set forth,-a. motona coin slot, contact means in said coin slot adapted to be actuated bya coin, to close the circuit in: which said motor is positioned, coin-release means, means driven by said motor for actuating said coin-release means after a predetermined period to release a coin, and con trol means driven by said motor and adapted, when said motor is stopped, to release a coin in said coin slot.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth, a motor, coin-actuated means for closing the circuit in which said motor is placed, coin-release means, means driven by said motor for actuating said coin-release means to release a coin after a predetermined period, and valve-control means driven by said motor and adapted to actuate said coin-release means when said motor is stopped.

7. In apparatus of the character set forth, a motor, coin-controlled means for closing the circuit in which said motor is placed, coin-release means, means driven by said motor for actuating said coin-release means to release a coin after a predetermined period, a gas supply pipe, a

coin-release. means, .means.

the character set forth,

slot for starting said driving means, coin-release means, means operated by said driving means for actuating said coin-release means for releasing the lowermost coin after a predetermined time, means for holding the coin thereabove against release during the releasing of the lowermost coin, said last-mentioned means then permitting the upper coin to drop to the position formerly occupied. by the first-mentioned coin, and control means actuated by said driving means and adapted to actuate said coin-release means to release the lowermost coin on the stopping of said driving means.

9. In apparatus of the character set forth, a motor, a coin slot adapted to receive a plurality of coins, a plurality of contact members associated With said slot and adapted to be actuated by coins to close the circuit in which the motor is placed, coin-release means, means driven by the motor for actuating said coin-release means for releasing the lowermost coin after a predetermined period, means for holding the coin thereabove against release during the release of the lowermost coin, and then dropping said seeond-mentioned coin to the position formerly occupied by the first-mentioned coin, and means driven by said motor for automatically actuating said coin-release means to release the lowermost coin upon the stopping of said motor.

10. In combination, a motor, a coin slot, coinactuated contacts within said coin slot adapted to be actuated by a plurality of coins to close the circuit in which said motor is placed, coin-release means, means driven by the motor for actuating said release means to free the lowermost coin after a predetermined period, means for maintaining the circuit closed during the releasing of the lowermost coin, and means driven by said motor and adapted to actuate said release means on the stopping of the motor.

11. In combination, a motor, a coin slot, coinactuated contacts within said coin slot adapted to be actuated by a plurality of coins to close the circuit in which said motor is placed, coin-release means, means driven by the motor for actuating said releasemeans to free the lowermost coin after a predetermined period, means for maintaining the circuit closed during the releasing of the lowermost coin, and slidable governor means driven by said motor and adapted to actuate said release means on the stopping of the motor.

12. In apparatus of the character set forth, driving means, coin-controlled means for starting said driving means, coin-release means, means driven by the motor for actuating said release means after a predetermined period, and a governor equipped with a slidable collar, said governor being driven by the motor and when driven, adapted to support the collar in raised position, and when idle, to depress said collar to a lower position, and means operated by said collar for actuating the coin-release mechanism when the collar is in lower position.

13. In apparatus of thecharacter set forth, driving means, coin-controlled means for starting said driving means, coin-release means, means driven by said driving means for actuating said release means after a predetermined period, a gas supply pipe, a valve therein, valve-control means driven by said motor and adapted to open said valve, said control means, upon the stopping of the motor, serving to close said valve, and means associated with said control means for actuating said coin-release means upon the stopping of the motor.

14. In automatic control apparatus, driving means, coin-control means for starting said driving means, coin-release means, means actuated by said driving means for actuating said coin-release means after a predetermined period, a fluid supply pipe, a valve therein, control means actuated by said driving means and adapted to open said valve when said driving means is operating, and means associated with said control means and actuated thereby for actuating said coin-release means when said driving means stops.

FRED E. WOOD. 

